Navarro Climbs Solo to Stage 5 Victory in 2010 Dauphine Libere

Team Astana's Daniel Navarro won the fifth stage of the 2010 Criterium du Dauphine with a solo effort in the last 40 kilometers earlier today.

Navarro, a teammate of two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, clinched the first win of his pro career thanks to a bold attack on the punishing climb to Chamrousse, where he left his breakaway companions done and dusted suffering behind him on the climb.

"I'm really happy to get my first win here at the Dauphine," Navarro said. "Normally I'm a good domestique but today Alberto told me to try and go for myself. I've tried my luck and it worked out."

Janez Brajkovic of Team RadioShack retained the race leader's jersey at the end of the 143.5-kilometer trek from Serre-Chevalier to Grenoble in the French Alps.

Navarro won ahead of Eros Capecchi of Italy and Thibaut Pinot of France, with both men crossing the finish line 34 seconds back.

Navarro was part of a group of seven riders who pulled clear early in the stage. He dropped Capecchi and Spaniard Egoi Martinez seven kilometers from the ski resort of Chamrousse.

Navarro maintained his lead in the downhill towards Grenoble, while the main pack, which included overall contenders Brajkovic and Contador, crossed the line 3:04 back.

Brajkovic leads Tejay Van Garderen of the United States by 1 minute, 15 seconds in the overall standings, with Contador 1:41 back.

Saturday's sixth stage is a 151.5-kilometer demanding ride from Crolles to the summit of L'Alpe d'Huez.